What Are We Getting Ourselves Into?

Yep, I'm pregnant with #2. About 9 weeks or so. It was another easy-peesy conception and now I have the dreaded middle of summer due date...August. Landscaping the back yard may need to wait until next year. August may not be too bad though. I can envision myself lounging on the back deck with my feet up for part of the summer and then doing more of the same after the kid is born for the rest of the summer. (That's probably pretty far from reality though.) I'm still struggling with being super excited about the pregnancy, but that's only because this time around I know how hard it is and how much harder it will be with one already around demanding my attention. Plus there's a pretty good chance that Aubrey will not have 2 months off after I have the kid like he had with Copper. I am constantly reassured that kids are always opposites so that may work in my favor this time around. Copper was tough nut as a baby....and a 1 year old...and a two year old...So I keep expecting #2 to be just as challenging. But maybe this one will go to bed before 1am before it's 3 months old, won't require my constant attention, will take something other than my boob, won't have food allergies, the list goes on. But Copper is a very affectionate little girl that loves her mama and I'm not sure that I don't want those traits in #2. It would be a tough trade off for a kid that is a little more independent than Copper was, but not as affectionate. (Maybe I won't give a shit about affection at that point as long as I can get a little time to myself once in a while.)  I'm sure as time goes on and I start to show and feel the baby kick, I will start to get more excited. Actually, the excitement part will come when I get to redecorate the guest room into Copper's new room. Copper is now getting a sibling whether she wants one or not and they damn well better get along. Having a second kid is not fulfilling a void in me, it's providing Copper with the partner in crime that we feel she deserves. Having two will be fun...some day. These first few years are going to be tough, but doable. Our family will be complete.

Boob

Tonight was the first time in Copper's life that I put her to bed without nursing her first. For the past 26 months, Copper has had boob almost every night. I've only been nursing her for nap time and bedtime for almost a year. Giving up those has been near impossible. She has a very strong association between boob and sleeping. We've tried in the past to have Aubrey put her to bed while I'm home and she has always flipped out and wanted me. So I had just kind of resolved to always put her to bed. Aubrey has been able to put her to bed and down for nap when I'm not home, but ONLY if I'm not home. That isn't very often. Maybe 4-5 times total. I don't have any issues with her still nursing. It would be nice to not have to nurse to get her to go to bed, but to us it's no big deal. It's interesting to look back at my pregnancy and  being a mom and my thoughts about breastfeeding. Early in my pregnancy I thought I would nurse about 4 months or so. The more I got immersed in the birthing center and having a natural birth I knew that I would try to nurse through her first year. Towards the end of that first year (knowing Copper's profound love of the boob) I figured that I would probably end up nursing her till she was two. As two came closer I thought that I would maybe go until she weaned herself. After a major meltdown last night after she fell asleep on the boob and then lost her shit after I pried my boob out of her clenched jaw and she woke up, Aubrey suggested that I try getting her off the boob to make night time a little more "normal." So tonight I told her many times as she was getting ready for bed and while we were reading books that she wasn't going to have boob after reading and that she was going to get in her bed. We finished reading and she asked for boob and grabbed at my shirt. I told her no boob and diverted her attention to picking out some books for in her bed. She fussed just a bit and then grabbed some books. I put her in bed and sang the songs that I always sing at the end of boob time and then I said good night and left the room. That went much much better than anticipated. It's possible that I just may have reclaimed my boobs. Knock on wood.

Aubrey

Copper has learned Aubrey's name and likes to use it. If she says "Daddy" a couple times without a response, then she'll switch and call him Aubrey. It's really cute when she says it. We need to get it on video. Sometimes when he's picking on her, she'll yell "Aubrey, stop! Aubrey, stop!" I love it.

Quotes of the Days

From yesterday:
"Copper Jo hungry."
        -Copper Jo


From today:
Me: "You're a piece of work."
Copper: "Mama piece work."
Me: "No, you're a piece of work."
Copper: "No, Mama piece work."
Me: "No, you're a piece of work.
Copper: "No, Mama piece work."